Vehicle-wheel.



PATENTED APR. 1'1, 1903.

M. J. CLARK. VEHICLE WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 19. IP02.

N0 MODEL.

WITNESSESI A TTOHN Ens .Pnovauruouwumum'on n c UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

MATHEW J. CLARK, OF OHAPARAL, ARIZONA TERRITORY.

V EHl C LE- WHEEl..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters ratnt No. 725,410, dated April 14,1903.

Application filed December 19, 1902. Serial No. 135,837. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATHEW J. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Ghaparal, in the county of Yavapai and Ter-V The object ofthe invention is to provide a new and improved vehicle-wheel which issimple and durable in construction and arranged to insure easy andcomfortable riding, especially when traveling over rough roads.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations ofthe same, as will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointedout in the claims. 7

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichsimilar charactersof reference indicate cor responding parts in all theviews.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement, part of the hub beingshown in section. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same, and Fig. 3is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the connection between thehub and the inner ends of the spokes.

The vehicle-wheel consists, essentially, of a rim A, a hub B, and spokes0, connecting the rim with the hub, and each of the said spokes O ismade from a single piece of flat spring metal doubled up in a portion ofits length to form a doubled-up shank O, and the outer ends of thedoubled-up portions of the shank terminate in-a loop C having its middleportion 0 in segmental shape to fit the inside of the rim A, as plainlyindicated in Fig. 1. Clip-plates D serve to fasten the middle portions Cof the loops 0 to the rim A, it being understood that screws, nails, orother-similar fastening devices are employed, extending through theplates and the middle portions 0 of the loops, to engage the material ofthe .rim A, as indicated in the upper portion of Fig. 2.

The inner ends of the doubled-upportions of the shanks C terminate inangular lugs or flanges 0 extending in opposite directions and abuttingagainst the hub B within-the annular groove B thereof, and the lugs ofadjacent spokes are engaged by a clip-plate E, fastened by screws,nails, or other fastening devices to the hub B. The ends of the lugs Cof adjacent spokes abut against each other, as plainly indicated inFigs. 1 and 3, and as the lugs are of a width to abut against theflanges formed at the ends of the hub B it is evident that the spokesare held against movement in any direction on the hub B. By thisconstruction a very strongand durable connection between the spokes andthe hub is established, and at the same time a yielding connection ishad between the spokes and the rim owing to the loop 0 yieldinglyconnecting the shanks of the spokes with the The spokes arepreferablymade tapering, as indicated in Fig. 2, to give the desired lightness tothe spokes without decreasing their efliciency and strength.

Now it will be seen that when the vehicle travels over a rough road thespokes readily take up all jarring and jolting motion, so that an easyand comfortable riding is ins'ured,and at the same time strong anddurable wheels are provided, not liable to break orget out of order. I

7 Having thus described my invention, I

.claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A vehicle-wheelhaving a rim, ahub, and spokes connecting the hub withthe rim, eachspoke being formed from a piece of spring metal partly doubled up toform the spokeshanks, the doubled-up portions of the shanks terminatingat their outer ends in loops, for attachment to the said rim, and theinner ends of the said doubled-u p portions terminating in angular lugs,for attachment to the hub, said spoke-shanks being parallel with eachother and extending side by side from the loops to the angular lugs andbeing sharply broadened at their inner endsto give greater strength andto abut against the flanges of the hubto prevent lateral movementthereon, as

the rim, each spoke being formed of a piece of spring metal partlydoubled up into parallel straight sections extending from the-hubthroughout the greater part of the length of the spoke, and bent intoside-by-side contact with each other to form the spoke-shank, thedoubled up portions terminating at their onterends near the rim of thewheel in loops, for attachment to the rim, and at their inner ends inangular lugs, fitting into the said groove of the hub and securedtherein, as set forth.

3. A vehicle-wheel having a rim, a hub provided with a peripheral grooveand flanges at the ends, and spokes connecting the hub with the rim,each spoke being formed of a piece of spring metal partly don'bled up,to form the spoke-shank, the doubled-up portions terminating at theirouter ends in loops, for attachment to the rim, and at their inner endsin angular lugs, fitting into the said groove of the hub and securedthereto, the lugs of adjacent spokes abutting against each other, as setforth.

4. A spoke for a vehicle-wheel, formed of a tions to form the shank, thedoubled-up portions terminatingat their outer ends in loops,

and at the inner'ends in angular lugs, the lugs standing in oppositedirections, and the straight sections beingi'n side-by-side contact witheach other and sharply broadened at their inner ends, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

MATHEW J. CLARK.

Witnesses:

THOMAS McNoLoN, J. W. HUBBARD.

